Today

[Filo]

We were out battled and out grafted by the team that wanted it the most!


We can`t keep on carrying JET for most of the game, in my opinion he hasn`t got the right attitude to make it in the prem!

Slow reactions led to the first goal when JOC deflected a cross onto the post

A mistake by Chambers led to the second goal but Martis just stood off the Blackpool player allowing him to curle a shot past sulli, also everytime Martis gets near the ball I shit myself, he had a nightmare today!


Finally, baffling substitutions too late, taking off our two most creative players

[MrFrost]

I finally agree with Filo on something!
Martis has had two shocking games this weekend. I really worry if he is to be our main centre back next season. I'd rather Sam Hird start.
I really hope we can sign Shackell or Ward.

[VikingJames]

I thought we started the game fairly well, but as the game went on, we started to lose the midfield battle, and I think that ultimately lost us the game.

Some of our approach play was neat, but the final delivery was missing every time from the likes of JET, Copps and Oster.

Heffs played well and was so unlucky not to get a goal, as he was brought down in the area when he was about to shoot, only to be booked for diving. And in later incidents, he should have scored when the ball broke to him in the box but the keeper made a solid double save, and he was denied again in the 2nd half when he held off his defender and slotted a shot in from a tight angle, only to see it scrambled off the line by a defender. Hayter also missed a great chance in the 2nd half when he hit the bar from close range.

We had our chances, but our own mistakes led to the 2 goals. Jimmy hit his own post in an attempt to clear for the first, and nobody in the Rovers back line reacted to the rebound before Campbell tapped it in. The second was due to Chambers needlessly giving the ball away on half way, Dobbie was played in down our right, and had all the time in the world to pick out the top corner as nobody went across to challenge him.

Overall, after making a bright start, we didn't really push on and look like winning the game. Once they went 1 up, the heads dropped, and from then on we looked lethargic. The second goal completely killed us off and from then on it was like a training match.

Man of the match for me was probably Oster, he was lively again, and tried his best to get us going in midfield, but unfortunately he seemed to be carrying the others around him, who were disappointing. Heffs was the other who had a decent game. He had a tough job up there on his own, worked hard, and on another day, he would have had a bit more luck with the chances that fell to him.

[Wellred]

Filo wrote:

Finally, baffling substitutions too late, taking off our two most creative players

Does SOD really have no idea as to when to make a positive substitution or is he just stubborn?

[Lesonthewest]

Personally I thought we good today, we played the better football on not the best of surfaces. We could have felt sorry for ourselves after Saturday but there was none of it. We played with a lot more urgency & purpose & were unlucky to go a goal behind. Before the goal they had a fair bit of possession without troubling our goal. Second goal stemmed from a mistake from Chambers who otherwise was excellent along with Oster, O'Connor, Martis, (thought he had his best game since returning), & Roberts. All in all a much better performance than Plymouth, & we more than matched a good Blackpool side even without the likes of Sharp, Woods, & Stock

[stockyboy]

We made a good start but i got to say they looked more deadly and probably deserved their win. There front line looked very good, and a great 2nd goal although our defending was poor. I'm still waiting for Martis to make me like him. We had our chances just there keeper was also in good form.

[VikingJames]

I thought Martis was good today. Granted he has had a few hairy moments since he came back, but today I don't think he put a foot wrong, and I thought he was solid enough at Barnsley and at Peterborough too.

[Boycie]

According to radio dee dar Sully only had a couple of saves to make all match with their keeper making a couple also.

[Filo]

VikingJames wrote:

I thought Martis was good today. Granted he has had a few hairy moments since he came back, but today I don't think he put a foot wrong, and I thought he was solid enough at Barnsley and at Peterborough too.

He backed off Dobie and gave him all the time in the world to curl the shot into the far corner

[VikingJames]

Filo wrote:

VikingJames wrote:

I thought Martis was good today. Granted he has had a few hairy moments since he came back, but today I don't think he put a foot wrong, and I thought he was solid enough at Barnsley and at Peterborough too.

He backed off Dobie and gave him all the time in the world to curl the shot into the far corner

Wouldn't have happened if Chambers wouldn't have stupidly lost the ball on the half way line.

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson, all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

[Filo]

VikingJames wrote:

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson,]/b] all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

You can`t help yourself can you, have a pop at Wilson at every opportunity!  

[VikingJames]

Filo wrote:

VikingJames wrote:

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson,]/b] all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

You can`t help yourself can you, have a pop at Wilson at every opportunity!  

I know you are just joking, but I'd just like to go on record and say I thought Wilson did ok today. Just before anybody starts having a go at me.

[Wellred]

Filo wrote:

VikingJames wrote:

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson,]/b] all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

You can`t help yourself can you, have a pop at Wilson at every opportunity!  

Good try but you didn't answer his point I see.

[Filo]

Wellred wrote:

Filo wrote:

VikingJames wrote:

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson,]/b] all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

You can`t help yourself can you, have a pop at Wilson at every opportunity!  

Good try but you didn't answer his point I see.

There`s no point to answer, the fact is Martis backed off Dobie and Dobie took full advantage, it was a factor in the second goal that killed us off, yes Chambers gave the ball away that led to the goal but you can`t gave players acres of space inside your own area, Martis did and ultimatley thats why they scored.


On another point, how anyone can have a go at Wilson while that lazy t**t JET is on the pitch, needs their head examining

[VikingJames]

Filo wrote:

Wellred wrote:

Filo wrote:

VikingJames wrote:

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson,]/b] all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

You can`t help yourself can you, have a pop at Wilson at every opportunity!  

Good try but you didn't answer his point I see.

There`s no point to answer, the fact is Martis backed off Dobie and Dobie took full advantage, it was a factor in the second goal that killed us off, yes Chambers gave the ball away that led to the goal but you can`t gave players acres of space inside your own area, Martis did and ultimatley thats why they scored.


On another point, how anyone can have a go at Wilson while that lazy t**t JET is on the pitch, needs their head examining

Never had a go at Wilson. Just intrigued as to why it is okay to openly criticise players like Martis, but as soon as soon as you say anything about Wilson, people go after you with flaming torches.

[Wellred]

Filo wrote:

Wellred wrote:

Filo wrote:

VikingJames wrote:

Anyway, I don't want to start a massive debate again, but how come some players (ie Martis) are openly criticised on this forum and nobody bats an eyelid, but then when anybody says anything about Wilson,]/b] all the do-gooders go on the defensive and have a go at the critics?

You can`t help yourself can you, have a pop at Wilson at every opportunity!  

Good try but you didn't answer his point I see.

There`s no point to answer, the fact is Martis backed off Dobie and Dobie took full advantage, it was a factor in the second goal that killed us off, yes Chambers gave the ball away that led to the goal but you can`t gave players acres of space inside your own area, Martis did and ultimatley thats why they scored.


On another point, how anyone can have a go at Wilson while that lazy t**t JET is on the pitch, needs their head examining

I don't recall reading where anyone had a go about Wilson?

[Snods Shinpad 2]

Pics from today

[Old Popsider]

Snods Shinpad wrote:

Pics from today

What was JR so pleased about?

[Snods Shinpad 2]

Old Popsider wrote:

Snods Shinpad wrote:

Pics from today

What was JR so pleased about?

Take your pick.

1. Having lots of ££££'s.
2. Owning Rovers.
3. Being surrounded 24/7 by sillicone breasts.

Any one of those 3 and I'd be chuffed to bits too (even if we were losing 5-0).

Lucky bugger has all three.

 

[Albert Trousers]

Strange how people see things differently, I'm no Martis fan by any stretch but I thought he had his best game for us since coming back (he should have closed there lad down for the 2nd but we seemed to stand off their players all over the field yesterday) I think we lost the game in the centre of midfield, they were too strong for us and when they attacked we were outnumbered on several occasions, however if we get the penalty early on and they go down to 10 men it's a different game. Played well for an hour then suddenly had one eye on the beach.

[CusworthRovers]

Some differing views on how it went yesterday. Here's another.


Sulli- Had little to do. The first was a deflection that caught him flat footed and stunned him and the defenders on the rebound. This goal was one best described as 'it never ran for us and we were unlucky'. The second was a good strike, that would have beaten any goalie. He had loads of pass backs that he coped with very well.

Chambo- Did OK. Got caught out with the second up the pitch.

JOC- Was good

Martis- I thought had his best game and was my MoM. Very solid and played like a leader at the back. Tried to start many a move off from the back by laying a pass off or striding out with it. He was shouting and bawling at his defenders on where he wanted them. The back line was very well organised, and it caught them offside loads. Only once, when DJ got through near the end, did they breach it.

Robbo- was good. He was up against a good player in their right back, who attacked like a winger and dribbled in-field a great deal.

Copps- was OK

Oster- carried on from the level he's been at

Wilson- did what Wilson does and was OK

JET- When he had the ball he was very very very good. I have to say, I thought he was playing too instruction, as he rarely left the touchline, hence it was more harder for him to actually get in the game.

Hayter- Put his usual shift in and played up front with Heffs in the first half and looked good up front.

Heffs- played well on his return. (See above)Looked good in first half when he had Hayts to help him up front. Had some chances and with a little luck may have bagged 2.



I thought Blackpool were a good solid unit. Our midfield had a job on against Adams and co. I think we struggled with options. Once players had the ball everything was closed off on a tight difficult pitch. What is frustrating to see as a spectator/fan is everytime we had the ball they were snapping at our heels, shoulder into us, really hassling us big style bordering on an infringement. When they had the ball we allowed them to think and have options. We marked them and closed them, but not as strong as what they did to us and thus gave them that extra second to make a choice, and that's the difference the higher the level you go at. Well done Holloway, he knows what we are about.    

Never Martis's fault for the second. Bad Dobbie had a clear run down the right, Martis had to scarper over to cover for the absent Chambo. Martis held Bad Dobbie up right edge of box as he was last man before goal (sensible defending IMO). The rest was just a good goal.


I thought it was the best home atmosphere I have seen in a long time. I thought the atmosphere was inexplicably very subdued in our end.

I thought the little jig Holloway did for the fans (when they sang his name) was awesome and would love to see Sean do that.

I thought we created and created many chances. I thought we were in their end a lot. I know we had umpteen corners. I thought we played well and battled against a very organised and up for it Blackpool.

[Albert Trousers]

The only thing I'd disagree with there Cussy,is Martis not closing their lad down for the 2nd,but our closing down all over the pitch was sloppy at best yesterday.
The atmosphere in the away end was probably the worst I have encountered anywhere, I know the open stand isn't the best for generating atmosphere but the sun was out at least!!!

On the way home we hung around for half an hour (primarily to absorb how much more of a shithole Blackpool has become since my last visit) we passed 3 or 4 Rovers coaches just after the Oldham/Rochdale turn off, then 2 more as we approached Carcroft. How the hell did those 2 coaches get such a distance in front of the others??

[CusworthRovers]

This one is going to split opinion here. I seem to be alone at the moment.

I've not seen TV yet, but I'll repeat my analogy with a bit more meat on it.


Dobbie was clean through down the right. There was no Chambo, Copps or whoever, to take responsibilty.

Martis took that responsibility to cover that position. Tick there I feel.



We were light at the back at this point. IMO a defender does 1 of 3 things:

1- He shows him the byline or forces him there. However, by doing this Dobbie might get a cross in and there is no defenders there or set. We might even be out-numbered. I'm not favouring this one boys, a medium sized risk in this one.

2- He dives straight into Dobbie. If he fouls, this is a huge gamble in giving away a penno/free kick, red card possibilities. There is also the risk in that he will be skinned and then Dobbie is clean through with an easy pass for a goal or an open shot on goal. One that a few of you on here seem to favour, but way way way too risky IMO.
 
3- He holds him up away from the danger part of the penalty box, at angle from the goal. He allows his players to get back and get set to defend. Seems a no brainer for me, on making this one the best option everytime. Yes it resulted in a goal this time. But it has to be a fantastic goal and in all honesty would this happen even 10 times out of 100.

[CottyRover]

I'm curious about how opinions on Martis vary. We know he is prone to errors at times, even from his loan period with us. I wasn't there yesterday, but I thought Martis had a good game on saturday. He doesn't give you the same confidence that Shackell gives, but his distrbution is better. From other posts sounds like he is beginning to settle into the team properly. Earlier posts asked why he isn't defended on here as much as Wilson - I'd say the difference is that Wilson has been here a lot longer and has received a lot more undeserved criticism. When that happens, I don't think any one is being a \"do-gooder\" if they stick up for him.

[wing commander]

Its hard to put your finger on it to be honest,individually our defenders all seem to play well but if your going to be harsh you would have to say that every game we play we have at least 3 defensive mistakes in us.That is why teams are never out of it when they play us,many many times your watching us controlling a game with Sulli a bystander yet out of nowhere a little mistake happens and they score despite hardly looking like threatening..The stats back this us with teams finishing the match with 2 shots on target yet have scored.
  However the other 98% of the time we are solid as a rock,that is why we have just missed out this year not because of the amount we score but the amount of unworked for goals we tend to ship...

[i_ateallthepies]

On the Martis question it's exactly as Cussy has said... Chambo had totally vacated his RB position where the attack was coming from, somebody had to cover him and Martis did, whilst being conscious that there would be a gap in the centre where he would normally be.  IMO Martis did everything he could in the circumstances and it took a superb strike to score.
This was Martis' best game for us.

As for the rest of the game, we had much of the initiative without creating many clear-cut chances.

The main difference between the two teams was how they worked when they didn't have the ball.  There were times when we just gave them the whole midfield to work in and defended on our 18 yard line instead of pressing them from halfway, which is just inviting trouble and is downright poor, (led to the first goal if I remember it right).

But the main thing that disappoints me is the way we give free headers in midfield, which comes from the basic premis that it isn't winning the header that matters but winning the second ball, which I don't have a problem with that but if you give the opposition a free header hoping that you still get chance of the second ball then it's seriously flawed, because all that happens is they have the time and space to direct the ball to one of their own and we don't get near the second ball.
OK, given the size of our players, they don't win many but the least they must do is challenge and deny the opposition the free header.